Sony announces PS4 launch date

Sony has used the Gamescom 2013 conference to announce the launch of the PlayStation 4 console. Along with that, they've announced price changes and revamps for older hardware... oh, and to make sly digs at Microsoft.

"Our goals for PS4 are clear, ambitious and unwavering. We set out to build the most powerful gaming platform with a deeply held, consistent focus on you the gamer," said Andrew House, president of Sony Computer Entertainment.

"While others have shifted their message and changed their story we are consistent in maintaining policy and a model that is fair and in tune with consumer desires," he added.

The next-gen console will launch in the US and Canada on November 15th and will sell for $399. In Europe, it'll be on sale on November 29th for €399 and in the UK, it'll go for £349. And it looks good for Sony, who have already received over a million pre-orders.

The PS4 will have 15 exclusive games at launch, and in total, there's 180 games currently in development. Sony have also announced a series of special PS4 broadband packages with Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Virgin Media, and Ono, with more deals to be announced in the future.

There'll also be a new slimmed-down 12GB version of the PS3, available for a reduced price. It'll comes with a special games deal for those who want to upgrade to the PS4 later.

Jim Ryan, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, said: "Over the past few years we've come to understand that gamers really value being able to use their consoles to watch movies, view catch-up TV, and listen to music. It remains a fundamental part of our strategy to offer these services as a core component of our basic PlayStation service package, available to all and not put behind a subscription gate."